Seat-indicator for theaters.



H. L. ROGERS.

SEAT INDICATOR FOR THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11. new.

Patented May 21,1918.

.2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I ATTORNEY H. L. ROGERS.

SEAT LNDICATOR FOR THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED s'EPT. l1. wls.

1,267,273; Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- L-m v WITNESSES ATTORNEY following is a specification.

HARRY I. ROGERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEAT-INDICATOR FOB 'rnne'rnns.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it know-n that I HARRY L. ROGERS, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seat-Indicators for Theaters, of which the My invention relates to indicators and has for its primary objects a provision of a simple and cheap indicator for use in connection with theater or auditorium seats,

whereby to apprise parties entering a theater as to the number and location of vacant seats. 1

My invention attains the mentioned object by the provision of an indicator associated with each row of seats in a theater, the indicator being placed on the end of a row at a point so as to be seen from the rear of the building.

Other objects will appear when a more thorough understanding of the invention is had from a perusal of the specification and an inspection of the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a theater seat having applied thereto the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation 'of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the indicator showing the same in position on the back of a seat.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the preferred arrangement of the electrical circuits embodied in the preferred form of my invention and,

Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged view of one form of circuit closer.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the various views of the drawin wherein the preferred em bodiment of t e invention is illustrated, a theater Seat shown being of the usual construction having the base frame 1, back 2 and hinged seat portion 3. Usual arm rests are designated 4. The seat 3 is preferably maintained in the position shown in Fig; 1, when unoccupied, by means of a suitable spring 5.

1pllpced, said plate being maintained on the nt'wall 7 by a flange 10. .The housing 6 Specification of Letters Patent.

My invention as applied embodies a hous-.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application filed September, 1915. Serial No. 51,232.

is maintained on the seat back 2 by means of angular pieces 11. It is to be understood that the housing may be detachably connected with the back so as to facilitate removal for repair or replacements. A plurality of indicating lamps 12 are provided, 7

said'lamps being mounted upon the rear wall of the hous1ng6 and adapted to project their rays through the openings 8 in the front wall 7. Suitable shields 13 are carried by the front wall 7 and are adapted to cover each of the lamps so as to protect the same and direct the rays thereof through said openings. The lamps are connected in a manner hereinafter set forth by means of conductors 14.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated in diagramseats and de-' The conductors 18 extend to the lamps 12 shown in diagrammatic form. Normall the circuits to the lamps 12 are closed, t at is, when the seats are unoccupied. However, as soon as a seat is occupled, the lamp designating said seat is extinguished and seats remaining un-.

occupied continue to indicate such a condition by the lamps representlng the same remaining lighted. a I

In Fig. 6 a form of circuit closer is shown. The back 2 and hinged seat 3 are provided with insulatin blocks 19 and 20 p aced on their margina edges at adjacent pomts. The blocks 19 and 20 carry bmdlng posts 22 to which the conductors 23 may be at tached. .A pair of L-shaped contacting plates 24 and 25 are rovided on the blocks 19 and 20 and are a apted when the seat'3 is in the position shown in Flg. 1 to engage and close the circuit to corresponding lamp for said seat.

When applied in proper position, the housings are carried upon the outer side of matic form the preferred arrangement of suitable circuit closthe end seat of. each row, a corresponding number of lamps beingplaced in the housings to the number of seats in the row. The openings 8 are the lamps 12 may be readily seen from the rear of the theater and parties enterin may readily observe from the back or the theater the number and location of the seats unoccupied, thereby avoiding much confusion and inconvenience in locatin a seat in a dark auditorium such as wou d be the case.

in a moving picture house.

The main feed conductors 15 may be made into various sub-feeding sections for various sections of seats in a theater. lit will be noted that when the front wall or the housing is moved to the open osition shields 13 will be removed from the amps allowing the latter to be replaced when necessary' spirit and scope of the invention is claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a, device of the class described, the

combination of'a chair comprising a back and pivotally mounted seat, L-shaped lates fixedly mounted upon the marginal edge of said back and said seat whereby said contact plates will overhang the inner surface of said back and the upper surface of said seat, thereby causing said contact lates to be in alinement-with each other, w ereby as said placed so that the rays from 7 seat is swung to an elevated position said plates will be clamped between said seat and said back for forming a positive circuit closure.

2. in a device of the class described, the combination of a seat comprising a back and pivotally supported seat portion spring members for urging said seat portion in one direction, L-shapedcontact plates mounted upon the marginal edge of said back and said seat portion, whereby portions of said contact plates will overhang the inner surface of said back and the upper surface of said seat portion whereby when said seat portion is in an elevated position, said contact plates will be clamped between said back and said seat portion for positively closing a circuit.

3. in a device of the class described, the combination of a chair comprising a back having a ivotally supported seat, means for urging said seat toward an elevated position, insulating blocks carried upon the marginal edges of said back and seat, L-shaped contact plates mounted upon ,said insulating blocks and overhanging the inner surface of said back and the upper surface of said seat, binding posts projecting from said plates whereby conductors may be applied thereto, and said contact plates being clamped between said back and seat when said seat is in an elevated position, thereby positively closing the circuit.

n testimony whereof \I afix my signature in pres'ence of two witnesses.

' o HARRY L. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

T. A. DoRsnY, HENRY W. Gnomwnona' 

